Descent

Descent
Descent	1995
Descent II	1996
Descent 3	1999
Descent (upcoming)	TBA

Descent is a singleplayer and multiplayer first-person action, FPS, shooter and vehicle combat game in the Descent series.

Key points

Engine is open source with modern multi-platform ports available. It is highly recommended to use either DXX-Rebirth or D2X-XL.

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Descent source code download page

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail
Epic Games Store
GOG.com		DOS version pre-packaged with DOSBox.^[2]
Steam		DOS version pre-packaged with DOSBox.^[3]

Version differences

The classic Mac OS version was substantially improved during the porting process. It features high-res (640x480 vs DOS's 320x200) menus, backgrounds, fonts & briefing images. It also had studio quality audio tracks. This version would later be used as the base for the PlayStation version, which additionally had intro videos (verses slides) and simple lighting effects. DXX-Rebirth supports the Mac OS data files though Windows users may require these patches.

Monetization

DLC and expansion packs

The PlayStation version included additional multiplayer maps ("anarchy levels"). Although porting them to the PC would theoretically be simple, no attempt has been made.

Name	Notes
Levels of the World
Anniversary's bonus levels (no official name given)	Also included with The Definitive Collection

In addition to the add ons above, Interplay had many map making competitions which some players considered to be the game's unofficial 3rd DLC. Although no official compilation has been made, a user on gog.com has made one of his own with almost all competition entries included. It can be downloaded here.

Essential improvements

Source ports

There are four (five technically) source ports available for Descent. These ports are major upgrades to the game and will improve almost all aspects of the game. Most notably, these ports support Windows, OS X, and Linux natively without the need for DOSBox.

Name	Description
DXX-Rebirth	Focused mostly on maintaining original gameplay and being authentic. Feature List
D2X-XL	Focused mostly on graphical and gameplay improvements. Changelog/Feature List
DXX-Retro	Based on DXX-Rebirth. Focused mostly on improving multiplayer. Source & Changelog
Project D2X	Very old source port, hasn't been updated in a long time. This project was the base for DXX-Rebirth & XL

Game data

In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
DOS	<path-to-game>\
Windows	<path-to-game>\^{[Note 1]}
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X)	<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)^{[Note 2]}
Linux	<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)^{[Note 2]}

It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

System	Location
DOS	<path-to-game>\
Windows	<path-to-game>\^{[Note 1]}
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X)	<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)^{[Note 2]}
Linux	<path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)^{[Note 2]}

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Epic Games Launcher
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

In-game video settings.

Graphics feature	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution		A source port is required. See Source ports.
Multi-monitor		Use D1X-Rebirth (D2X-XL has incorrect scaling).
Ultra-widescreen		Use D1X-Rebirth (D2X-XL has incorrect scaling).
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed	For DOSBox toggle with `Alt`+`↵ Enter` (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Borderless fullscreen windowed	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)	A source port is required. See Source ports.
Anti-aliasing (AA)	A source port is required. See Source ports.
Vertical sync (Vsync)	A source port is required. See Source ports.
60 FPS	Capped at 50 FPS;^[4] for 60 FPS see Source ports.
120+ FPS	A source port is required. See Source ports.
High dynamic range display (HDR)	See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

In-game key map settings.

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus		A source port is required. See Source ports.
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support		A source port adds modern controller support. See Source ports.
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers

DualShock 4 controllers

Tracked motion controllers

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Button prompts
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles		No Audio Dialogue to subtitle.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost		For DOSBox change the `priority` background value in the DOSBox configuration file.
Royalty free audio
Red Book CD audio		Mac OS CD-ROM version only.
General MIDI audio		DOS version only.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		8	Versus, Co-op
Online play		8	Versus, Co-op

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

VR support

3D modes	Native	Notes
Native 3D		Use D2X-XL (anaglyph, 3D TV).^[5]
Nvidia 3D Vision		See Descent 1 - 2 (DXX-Rebirth) [OpenGL].
vorpX		G3D Officially supported game trough D2X-XL, see official vorpx game list.
Headsets	Native	Notes
HTC Vive		This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer (compatibility list).
Oculus Rift		Use D2X-XL.^[5]
OSVR
Windows Mixed Reality		This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer (compatibility list).
Forte VFX1		Said to have added support in the game's v1.4a patch.^[6] Unknown if any source ports support the headset.
Devices	Native	Notes
Tracked motion controllers
Traditional controller		See Input for details.
Keyboard/Mouse
TrackIR		Supports: Yaw, Pitch, Roll, X, Y, Z (Descent: D2X-XL).
Play area	Native	Notes
Seated
Standing
Room-scale

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
OpenGL	1.0	Requires a source port or official OpenGL patch from interplay.
Software renderer		Default mode in source ports and only mode without graphics patch from interplay
DOS video modes	VGA, SVGA

Executable	PPC	16-bit	32-bit	64-bit	ARM	Notes
Windows						64-bit requires a source port.
macOS (OS X)						OS X support requires a source port.
Linux						Requires a source port.
Mac OS (Classic)

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Human Machine Interface (HMI) audio drivers

System requirements

DOS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	5.0	6.2
Processor (CPU)	Intel 386 33 MHz	Intel 486 33 MHz
System memory (RAM)	4 MB	8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	25 MB
Video card (GPU)	VGA	SVGA

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP, Vista, 7, 8 (runs in DOSBox)
Processor (CPU)	1 GHz	1.4 GHz
System memory (RAM)	512 MB	1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	25 MB
Video card (GPU)	DirectX 7 compatible	DirectX 9 compatible

Mac OS
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	System 7 (classic)
Processor (CPU)	PowerPC 601 90 MHz
System memory (RAM)	8 MB (3 can be virtual memory)
Hard disk drive (HDD)	18 MB
Video card (GPU)	640x480 display with 256 colors

macOS (OS X)
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	10.6.8 "Snow Leopard" (runs in DOSBox)
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core Duo 2 GHz
System memory (RAM)	1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU)	64 MB of VRAM

Linux
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	Ubuntu 16.04
Processor (CPU)	2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM)	1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	50 MB
Video card (GPU)	OpenGL compatible 256 MB of VRAM

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data.

References

[gamedir-4] 1.0 ^1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

[DOSBox_mounted-5] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data.

[1] GOG.com adds Interplay games for Mac OS X ● GOG.com

[2] List of GOG games using DOSBox, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com

[3] Native or DOSBOX? :: Descent General Discussions

[6] Higher Framerate = good or bad?

[VR-7] 5.0 ^5.1 D2X-XL - Descent (video game) revived and enhanced!About D2X-XL.

[8] VFX1 Headgear Compatible Softwater - Mindflux

[1]

[2]

[3]

[Note 1]

[Note 2]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Developers

	Parallax Software
Mac OS (Classic)	Interplay Entertainment
Publishers
	Interplay Entertainment
Engines
	Descent
Release dates
DOS	March 17, 1995
Windows	March 17, 1995
Mac OS (Classic)	1995
Windows (DOSBox)	July 22, 2008
macOS (OS X) (DOSBox)	October 26, 2012^[1]
Linux (DOSBox)	September 23, 2021
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	First-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	Action, FPS, Shooter, Vehicle combat
Vehicles	Space flight
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Sci-fi
Series	Descent